We are accelerating our Customers for Life strategy with a bold transformation of our merchandising approach, one that puts value, personalization, and agility at the center of the customer experience. Today, Albertsons Cos. is pleased to announce several key leadership changes representing significant talent investments that will help us buy better to sell better, optimize our cost of goods sold, and strengthen our fresh and assortment capabilities.
Leading this transformation is Michelle Larson, who recently transitioned into the role of EVP, Chief Merchandising Officer. With a successful track record across merchandising roles and leadership of the Shaw’s and Southwest Divisions, as well as her most recent role as EVP of Operations West, Larson brings extensive operational and strategic expertise. She now oversees Own Brands, Category Excellence, Pricing & Promotion, Space Planning and Fuel and Commission Income.
Larson and the Albertsons Cos. team will execute a unified, agile, and customer-centric approach that brings our national and division merchandising teams closer together. This alignment ensures that every merchandising decision, from assortment to pricing to promotion, is made with the customer and associates at the center. We are doubling down on the pillars that enhance our value proposition for the 37 million customers shopping our stores each week.
- Pricing Investment: We continue investing to level the playing field in price and promotion. We have lowered prices on hundreds of items across our Shaw’s, Southwest and Seattle divisions and are driving more value with our customers through promotions and increased national sales events. Customer response is strong, and we look forward to rolling out lower prices across our other divisions this year.
- Services: Our pharmacies and e-commerce capabilities set us apart from the competition. We will continue to invest in these areas to service our customers and attract new ones.
- Fresh: Our fresh category performance is strong, and we will continue to lead with quality, taste, and transparency.
- Own Brands: Jack Pestello was recently named President of Own Brands, and under his leadership, we will continue to grow our $16+ billion private label portfolio featuring trusted household names that provide quality, value, and ease in every corner of the store.
- Micro Market Merchandising: With 2,200 stores, product assortments are tailored to reflect the uniqueness of local communities, delivering personalized experiences focused on quality, taste, and value.
“It’s a new day at Albertsons Cos., and we are sharpening our customer value proposition to drive long-term growth faster than the market,” said Larson. “I look forward to working with this talented team of leaders to support our associates and serve our customers, inspiring them to return again and again.”
Additional Leadership Updates
As part of this merchandising transformation, Mark Laryea, currently President of the Jewel-Osco Division, will become President of Merchandising, reporting to Larson. Laryea brings deep industry experience and a strong growth record from his leadership at ACME and Jewel-Osco. He will oversee the comprehensive merchandising strategy to enhance overall performance supported by:
- Jewel Hunt, GVP, Corporate Merchandising, continuing to lead our merchandising strategies for bakery, deli, and Starbucks.
- Anthony Suggs, GVP, Corporate Merchandising, continuing to lead our center store merchandising strategy.
- Teresa Whitney, GVP, Corporate Merchandising, continuing to lead our merchandising strategies for meat & seafood, produce and floral.
- Chris Cowgill, GVP, Merchandising will become GVP Business Intelligence and Analytics, responsible for Analytics, Financial Reporting and Business Optimization – in partnership with the Customer Insights team – leading to actions.
- Christopher Lanoue, lead merchant for the NorCal Division, will move into the role of GVP, Merchandising Operations, leading our team responsible for Systems/Tools, Item and Data Governance, Pricing and Promotion, and Space Planning. Chris has a strong merchandising foundation, having held roles on the National Merchandising team and successfully led merchandising in Portland and Seattle Divisions beforetaking on the lead merchant role in NorCal.
June Zheng, VP, Merchandising Strategy and Business Development, will report directly to Larson. She will be responsible for leading merchandising strategy support and Business Ventures.
As a result of these changes, we are making the following shifts in division leadership:
- Thomas Lofland, President, Mid-Atlantic Division, will become President, Jewel-Osco Division, continuing to report to Rob Backus, EVP Retail – East. Tom has more than two decades of grocery industry experience, having worked in multiple markets and for multiple grocers across the country.
- Sean Thompson, SVP Retail, will become President, Mid-Atlantic Division, continuing to report to Rob. Sean brings strong industry experience in merchandising and operations to the Mid-Atlantic team. Since joining in May, Sean has led strategic growth projects such as our micro-marketing approach and driving sales for celebrations, helping create lasting customer relationships.
These leadership updates underscore our efforts to earn Customers for Life as we work together to drive growth under a unified merchandising strategy. We are confident this talented team will help us raise the bar and deliver even greater value to our customers.